Your objective should include both long-term research goals and the short-term steps that will help you reach your overall objective (note any steps you can think of now, but you’ll add more as you develop your plan). Perhaps you want to identify the name of the overseas town or village where your great-grandfather was born, or when he immigrated to the United States. Write down as specifically as possible what you want to accomplish. You can use it as a model to chart your own course for genealogical success. In this article, I’ll take you through a simple, five-point strategy to create a research plan by showing you how I used this method to trace the birth, marriage and death records of my paternal great-grandfather, Mihaly Fenscak. Just as you wouldn’t attempt to change the oil in your car without instructions or try to prepare a baked Alaska without a recipe, you shouldn’t even think about going on your ancestral journey without a solid plan. Think of it as a road map, or in modern terms, a GPS that provides a navigational system to your past. Alzo uses this method to trace the birth, marriage and death records of her paternal great-grandfather in five steps.Ī research plan helps you record the who, what, when, where and why of your family history quest. Get your genealogy research on track by using this model to create your own plan.

Family Tree Templates and Relationship Charts.

Best Genealogy Websites for Asia and the Pacific.

Best Geography and Historical Map Websites.

Best African American Genealogy Websites.

Best US and Canadian Genealogy Websites.

Surnames: Family Search Tips and Surname Origins.

Preserving Old Photos of Your Family History.How to Find Your Ancestor’s US Military Records.

Sample family history book template